Windshield cleaning device



Aug. 9, 1938. E. J, EADDY WINDSHIELD CLEANING DEVICE Filed April 5, 1957 2 Sheejas-Shee'h l m m m m 0 frweaf J F caddy ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 9, 1938. E. J. EADDY ,1

" WINDSHIELD CLEANING DEVICE Filed April 5, 1957 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Aug 9, 1938 WINDSHIELD CLEANING DEVICE 7 Ernest J. Eaddy, Spartanbnrg, S. 0.

Application April 5, 1937, Serial No. 135.149

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a windshield cleaning device and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a normally inactive device of the class referred to for installation in an automotive vehicle forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the windshield of the lat ter, made active, when occasion requires, from the interior of the vehicle and when active projecting a cleaning liquid rearwardly in a direction to impact against, the front of the windshield whereby the said front is cleaned.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a normally inactive windshied cleaning device for installation in an automotive vehicle forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the windshield of the latter, made active, when occasion requires, from the interior of the vehicle and when active projecting a liquid possessing a defrosting characteristic, rearwardly in a direction to impact against the front of the windshield whereby the latter is defrosted.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in amanner as hereinafter set forth, a device of the class referred to which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong. durable, compact, readily installed with respect to the windshield of an automotive vehicle, thoroughly eiiicient in its use, conveniently operated, quickly assembled and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

To the above ends essentially and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown embodiments of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modification may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of an automotive vehicle showing the adaptation therewith of the liquid discharge nozzles of a cleaning device in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the closed type body of an automotive vehicle 0 with a door of said body open and showing the arrangement therein of the rear portion of a cleaning device in accordance with this invention, V

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the device in vertical longitudinal section illustrating the pump element and the valve controlled liquid feed and supply lines,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in top plan illustrating the upper end of the form of the liquid discharge nozzles employed,

Figure 5 is a section online 5-5, Figure 4,.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in elevation of an automotive vehicle body showing the adaptation with respect to the windshield of the vehicle a modified form of cleaning device in accordance with this invention, and

Figure 7 is a section on line 1-1, Figure 6.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2 the vehicle is generally indicated at 8 and includes a body 9 of the closed type. Figure 2 illustrates an instrument board Ill arranged within the body 9. The cowl of the vehicle is indicated at H on Figures 4 and 5 and at l2 on Figure 6. The windshield is indicated at I 2' Figures 1, 2 and 6.

Figures 1 to 5 illustrate one form of the device and Figures 6 and 7 another or modified form. Each form of the device includes a container I3 for a body of cleaning liquid or fluid. Preferably, the liquid will possess a defrosting characteristic. Extending from the container I3 is a liquid feed line it which at its outer end is connected to and opens into the lower end of an annular peripherally flanged housing or coupling I5 constituting a check valve chamber l6 having confined therein a spring controlled ball valve I'I constituting a check. The seat for valve I1 is indicated at II. The upper end of housing l5 extends into, is secured to and has controllable communication with the lower leg IQ of a vertically arranged T coupling 20 disposed on the bottom edge of the leg I! and arranged forwardly of the instrument board Ill. The upper and intermediate legs of the coupling 20 are indicated at 2|, 22 respectively. The leg 2| is arranged over and spaced from leg It. The leg 22 merges into the rear sides of the legs l9, 2| at the inner ends of the latter and extends rearwardly from legs l9, 2i. Arranged over and spaced from housing I5 is an annular peripherally fianged housing or coupling 23 constituting a check valve chamber 24 having confined therein a spring controlled ball valve 25 constituting a check. The seat for valve 25 is indicated at 25. The inner end of housing 23 extends into, is secured to and has controllable communication with the leg 2|. Secured to the upper end of housing 23 is a liquid supply line or pipe 21. The seats I8, 26 are arranged within the housings I5, 23 respectively intermediate the ends of the latter. Extending into the rear end of leg flandoecuredtothelatterisanannularperipherallyiiangedhlhilarcouplingelement I! iormedoi'ai'orwardportionllandarearportion. 'lheiatterisoigreaterinnerandouter diametersthanthatottheportions II. The inner-diameteroiportionflismateriallyless thanthatolpostionllandthejuncflonotthe twoinnerdiameteraprdvidesaahoulderli. The latteristapered'mn'edupontherearendot theportionaolelanentlliltheforwardopen endotarearwardlyextendingcylinderfloia pump". Thecylinderllinciudesarearaxially end 8!. The aperture or'opening in endilisindieatedat OI. rormedintegral with therearendlloicylinderliisarearwardly extending peripheraliythreaded annular sleeve flwhichextembthroughanopmingIi-iormed intheinstrlnnentboard ll.

I Arranged within the cylinder 32 and interposed be theheaduandtherearendotpcrtion lloielementaisacoiledcontrollingspring which normallyactstomaintaintheheadll inthepositionshownini'illii'eS.

o Withreterencetotheiorm of the deviceshown byI'IguresItoSJtineIudesanupstandingT- coupling ll which'has its vertical leg attached to the upperend oithesupplylineor pipe 2I,apair oi oppositely disposed liquid conducting lines ll. 48 (Figure 2) which are attached to and extend iromthehorilontal legsotcoupling,apairot peripherally threaded flanged annular couplers I, ll (Figure 2) extending into the upper ends, secured to and projecting from the lines ll, 48 respectively, a pair of upstanding forwardly inclined spaced parallel peripherally threaded nozzles I, II pasdng through spaced aligned openings ll, only one shown (Figure 5) in the cowl II and each formed of a rectangular head I of segmental contour in lengthwise section arrangedover the cowl ii, and an annular-body part II (Figure 5) extending inwardly from the head I8. spacers I4 surrounding the said body parts I! and interposed between the heads I! and cowl il, washers I surrounding the body parts I and hearingagainst theloweriaceotthe cowl ll,and clamping nuts '0 carried by the body parts It, bearing against the washers I and in connection with the heads 53, spacers I4 and washers II clamp the nozzles to the cowl II. The body part II- oi each nozzle is formed of an inner portion 51 or enlarged inner diameter and an outer portion SI of reduced inner diameter which merges into the inner face oi the head of a nozzle. The Junetion of the portions [1, ll provides the bodyparts I! o! the nozzles with internal shoulders II. The portion II of eachbodypart I'isthreaded. The upper portions of the couplers 41, ll extend into and are secured with the portions ll of the body parts" otthenossles II. II. 'lheupperends Theinneriaceot' sleeve8|providesaiiushcontinuatienotthe oithecoupiersltllwhenleeuredtothehody partslI'oithenonlesllJOahuttheinter-nal liandapalrofoppositelyextendinginnerendwise horisnntalsectlonsll,llwhichare T attheirinnerendswiththeupperend otscctipn'llbyaT-coupler'li. Securedtothe outer enda of the sections II, II of pipe Ii are oppositely disposed hollow elbow-shaped nozzle carryingmemberIILIIoi'HkeIorm. Eachnoszlecarryingmemberhasitsupstandimleg'll (I'lgure'l) formed with internalthreadsll fora portionoiitsl nsth- Becuredtothelegslloi themelnber's'll,llarenmiesll,llrespectively. ThendsxleslLflareotlikeformandeachincludug -headuoiregmentalcrosssectionanda peripherallythreadedbodypartflotthesame iormasthebodypartwreterredto. Thebody' part 84 extenrk into and threadedly engages with theupstandingleg'llotanonlecarryingmember. Theheadltextemhlateraliyfrombody part". Theextendedpartoi'headllisarrangedovertheupperendedgeotanupstanding legoi'anomecarryingmemberandinterposed betweensaidlegandextendedpartisawasher orspacerll. ThenwsleslLlIareiormedwith passagallofthesamei'ormandan'angement andforthesamepurpoeeasthepassageslreferredto. Thenolslellorllisiormedwithan inclinedpartfloithesameiormandarrangeferredto. Thenolxleflorllhasacutoutllu of the same form and arrangement as a cutout 62.

The housings I5, 23 and the elements carried thereby provide alternately opening controlling valve structures. The cleansing liquid or fluid is termed a cleansing medium. The T-coupling 20 provides a cleansing medium receiving chamber 89 with which the lines i4, 21 and the pump 33 communicate. The line I 4 is normally in communication with chamber 89. The line 21 is normally closed to chamber 89. The pump 33 is in permanent communication with chamber 89.

The ports 6|, 8! are directed towards the front of windshield and function, when a form is made active, to direct the cleansing liquid to impact in spray-like form the front of the windshield for. cleaning it, or when a liquid possessing a defrosting characteristic employed is directed to impact against the front of the windshield by the ports 6|, or 81, the windshield will be defrosted.

Either form shown is made active on the operation of the pump 33.

What I claim is:

1. In a cleaning device for the windshield of an automotive vehicle, a nozzle adapted to be anchored with and in extended relation to the cowl of the vehicle forwardly of the windshield to provide for impacting against the latter a cleaning medium, said nozzle including a head having outer and inner faces, said head being formed centrally with a passage closed at its outer end and open at its inner end, said head being formed in the rear portion of its outer face with a rectangular depression spaced from said passage and with a port leading from said passage at a point adjacent the closed end of the latter to the inner end of the depression, said depression being open at its rear, said port inclining upwardly from said passage to said depression, and an annular body integral at one end'with the inner face of the head and adapted to be connected with a cleaning medium source, said body having a portion of its inner face corresponding in diameter to that of and forming a flush continuation of said passage.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 having said head of segmental contour in lengthwise section, rectangular in plan and of a length to extend forwardly and rearwardly with respect to said body.

3. In a cleaning device for the windshield of an automotive vehicle, a nozzle adapted to be anchored to and in extended relation with respect to the cowl of the vehicle forwardly of the windshield and adapted to provide for impacting the latter with a cleansing medium, said nozzle including a rectangular head for positioning over the cowl, said head being of segmental contour in lengthwise section to provide it with a curved outer face and a flat inner face, said head being formed centrally with an upstanding passage closed at its outer end and opening at its inner end at said inner face, an annular body integral at one end with said inner face, said head including rear and forward portions extending respectively rearwardly and forwardly with respect to said end of said body, the outer face of said head being formed with a depression lengthwise thereof in said rear portion adjacent said passage, said depression being open at its outer side, said head being formed with a port leading from said passage at a point inwardly of the closed end of the latter to the inner end of the depression, said port being inclined upwardly from said passage to said depression, and said body adapted to be connected with a cleaning medium source and having a portion of its inner face corresponding in diameter to and forming a flush continuation of said passage.

4. In a cleaning device for the windshield of an automotive vehicle, a nozzle element for discharging a cleaning medium rearwardly at an upward inclination to impact the front of the windshield, said element being formed with a fluid conducting passage closed at its outer and open at its inner end, said nozzle being formed in its outer end with an external depression gradually decreasing in depth towards and spaced from said passage, said nozzle being formed with a port inclining upwardly from its inner to its outer end, said port having its inner end opening into said passage adjacent the closed end of the latter and its outer end opening into the bottom of said depression, and means for clamping said nozzle stationary in an upstanding position inclining forwardly from its lower to its upper end.

5. In a cleaning device for the windshield of an automotive vehicle, a nozzle element for discharging a cleaning medium rearwardly at an upward inclination to impact the front of the windshield, said element including a body part and a head integral with the outer end of said body part, said element being formed with a fluid conducting passage closed at its outer end and open at its inner end, the closed outer end of said passage being in said head, said head being formed with an external depression spaced from said closed end of the passage and an inclined port opening at one end into said passage at a point spaced from the closed end of the latter and at its other into the said depression.

6. The invention as set forth in claim 5 having said depression gradually decreasing in depth from its outer to its inner end, the depression being open at its outer end and including an inner end wall, a pair of side walls and a bottom, and said port opening into the depression at the junction of said inner wall and said bottom.

ERNEST J. EADDY. 

